Been thinking about writing my question for my essay and I'm fairly sure about what I'd like to talk about. That great big topic of creativity, why the hell not?!! I've been recently researching about beauty, education, childbirth, bonding and there are about a million books I still want to read, especially ones about creativity in children and how we develop creativity. Its amazing!
it got me to thinking about learning and creativity as we grow older and how our lifestyles really do affect our minds. If we do not nurture and appreciate our creative minds... will they slowly wither away and die? Before you know it... everything would be so black and white and none of the grey in between.
My essay will be so grey. The greyest essay I've ever written. Not because I want an A... because I dont belive in grades anymore (ha). No but really, I'm looking forward to wiritng this thing which is a pretty good thing considering I cannae hack essays man.
If anybody has any suggestions on books wich would be useful, please dont hesitate to suggest! Currently dreaming about birth and babies so would be nice to have a change!!
Monday, 28 March 2011
Sunday, 13 March 2011
Im not a bad student because I don't like stuff.
Sorry blogglettes, its been a wee while!
Here's whats actually been in my head:
Deadlines, David Shrigley, jokes, recipes, learning, teaching, flats, family, relationships, flowers, language, wine, money, gambling, fractions, holidays, sunshine, rain, scared about uni, beauty, future, understanding research, cleaning, dancing, music, art, upcoming exhibition, 4th year, essays and other things.
Sometimes it's nice just to write things down. One of the best pieces of advice I have ever been given was from a tutor when I was in second year, who said that I shouldnt care what I write in my sketchbook, don't think of it as something which will be assessed, instead use it as a diary. And ever since then I've been writing in my sketchbook with great ease and it helps so much just to get all your ideas onto a page and thats them there and you dont forget them.
Now, im about to get all opionated here (shock horror). Here goes...
I don't really care that much about reasearching loads of artists. Now, hear me out before you shun me completely. I know that researching artists is vital to our practice and I do research them because its nice to look at other people's work. I just think, however, that knowing loads of things about different artists isn't going to necessarily make you know loads of things about yourself and your practice. Research for me isnt about printing images and information about artists, its about finding something which I am genuinely interested in and enjoying learning about. I could easily fill a ringbinder with notes about Cindy Sherman, Barbra Kruger and blah blah blah but I genuinly dont want to. Not because I dont like them or dont understand things about their work... I just dont feel the need to act as though they are the soul reason I am motivated. I hear people talk about artists with such enthusiasm, maybe I'm jealous, I dont know, but I've never really felt that way about an artist. I get more enthused about going out and seeing things for myself, knowing that my ideas are developing and I am enjoying what I'm doing. I will never sit in a library and learn about all of the influential photographers of all time because I don't agree that because people have made some nice art that they will be my motivation. I motivate myself just now, maybe because I haven't found an artist who has blown me away yet... or maybe because it just who I am.
Some may feel that not being enthusiastic about artists is a bad thing but thats not to say that I'm a bad student and I wont do well... or maybe it does, I wont know that until I finish University, but I'm tired of proving to people that I am motivated. I think about things, I make decisions, I make work. I'm no less an art student than anybody else just because I dont spend my free time in galleries.
Here's whats actually been in my head:
Deadlines, David Shrigley, jokes, recipes, learning, teaching, flats, family, relationships, flowers, language, wine, money, gambling, fractions, holidays, sunshine, rain, scared about uni, beauty, future, understanding research, cleaning, dancing, music, art, upcoming exhibition, 4th year, essays and other things.
Sometimes it's nice just to write things down. One of the best pieces of advice I have ever been given was from a tutor when I was in second year, who said that I shouldnt care what I write in my sketchbook, don't think of it as something which will be assessed, instead use it as a diary. And ever since then I've been writing in my sketchbook with great ease and it helps so much just to get all your ideas onto a page and thats them there and you dont forget them.
Now, im about to get all opionated here (shock horror). Here goes...
I don't really care that much about reasearching loads of artists. Now, hear me out before you shun me completely. I know that researching artists is vital to our practice and I do research them because its nice to look at other people's work. I just think, however, that knowing loads of things about different artists isn't going to necessarily make you know loads of things about yourself and your practice. Research for me isnt about printing images and information about artists, its about finding something which I am genuinely interested in and enjoying learning about. I could easily fill a ringbinder with notes about Cindy Sherman, Barbra Kruger and blah blah blah but I genuinly dont want to. Not because I dont like them or dont understand things about their work... I just dont feel the need to act as though they are the soul reason I am motivated. I hear people talk about artists with such enthusiasm, maybe I'm jealous, I dont know, but I've never really felt that way about an artist. I get more enthused about going out and seeing things for myself, knowing that my ideas are developing and I am enjoying what I'm doing. I will never sit in a library and learn about all of the influential photographers of all time because I don't agree that because people have made some nice art that they will be my motivation. I motivate myself just now, maybe because I haven't found an artist who has blown me away yet... or maybe because it just who I am.
Some may feel that not being enthusiastic about artists is a bad thing but thats not to say that I'm a bad student and I wont do well... or maybe it does, I wont know that until I finish University, but I'm tired of proving to people that I am motivated. I think about things, I make decisions, I make work. I'm no less an art student than anybody else just because I dont spend my free time in galleries.
Friday, 4 March 2011
Bute is Beautiful
Having such a lovely time on the island, lovely weather and lovely things. Miss the countryside very much!!
Monday, 28 February 2011
Beautiful bits and bobs
Beauty is a very confusing thing as nobody will ever have the same opinion, I hope to take beautiful photos and make beautiful art and give people beautiful thoughts. Here are some examples of my work about beauty:
Top piece is from an old project but I still feel its important to my current research, I've always aspired for beauty in my work even if I didnt mean to!
Wednesday, 23 February 2011
Self soothing
What I've found throughout all of my years of studying is that we have a constant need to prove that wee have tried hard. We prove that we have thought about the mathematics calculation by writing down our workings, even if we can do it mentally. We prove that we've done the research for a project because we photocopied the book we read. Why do we need to prove that we're working? Surely it will be evident in the quality of our work? We don't need a bulging sketchbook and bags of newspaper clippings to prove ourselves to anyone. (Sounding a bit defensive I know!)
I noticed this recently in my primary one class which I volunteer to help with. I was helping a young girl to read (it was so amazing I can't even deescribe it) and after every sentence she'd look to me so that I could say "yep, that's right well done". Now, I'd never deny a 5 year old girl the satisfaction of knowing she can read because I was so enthusastic I couldn't help but shower her with praise. What I'm interested in is knowing if we will ever stop being praised and what will happen then? Will we stop trying or will we just adapt to a new way of thinking for ourselves?
I've recently been thinking a lot about this and have had many conversations about the topic and struggles of research with different people. It's interesting to find that many of us still feel tht we have to prove our enthusiasm to our peers, collegues, elders just so we can get that feeling of accomplishment when somebody says "bloody hell, you've done a lot of work there!" Obviously I still want that, we all love a bit of praise now and then but maybe being confident in your own knowledge and learning would be just as nice? I'd like to get on that path towards inner confidence in my practice. We must realise that we're not always going to have somebody looking over your shoulder as your write in your sketchbook to say "good work". However this is not to say that we will be constantly alone with our thoughts with no insight from others. Just as a baby learns to sleep on it's own, maybe sometimes we have to self soothe.
I noticed this recently in my primary one class which I volunteer to help with. I was helping a young girl to read (it was so amazing I can't even deescribe it) and after every sentence she'd look to me so that I could say "yep, that's right well done". Now, I'd never deny a 5 year old girl the satisfaction of knowing she can read because I was so enthusastic I couldn't help but shower her with praise. What I'm interested in is knowing if we will ever stop being praised and what will happen then? Will we stop trying or will we just adapt to a new way of thinking for ourselves?
I've recently been thinking a lot about this and have had many conversations about the topic and struggles of research with different people. It's interesting to find that many of us still feel tht we have to prove our enthusiasm to our peers, collegues, elders just so we can get that feeling of accomplishment when somebody says "bloody hell, you've done a lot of work there!" Obviously I still want that, we all love a bit of praise now and then but maybe being confident in your own knowledge and learning would be just as nice? I'd like to get on that path towards inner confidence in my practice. We must realise that we're not always going to have somebody looking over your shoulder as your write in your sketchbook to say "good work". However this is not to say that we will be constantly alone with our thoughts with no insight from others. Just as a baby learns to sleep on it's own, maybe sometimes we have to self soothe.
Tuesday, 15 February 2011
Sunday, 13 February 2011
I must not be afaid to fail
Making art is hard sometimes because we contantly think about what people are going to say about it, yes we can make selfish art, we can also be so inspired by our work that we dont care about other people... but sometimes it is nice to know that people like your ideas and think you've made a very nice photograph, drawing, painting or sculpture.
It is also important, however, to just do what feels right and not be afraid to jump right into something with your whole self. Thats how we keep inspired surely? Maybe if I stop thinking about projects I'm given as a constant evaluation of myself and instead think of them as a way to improve, I'll be a hell of a lot more focussed and happy with my work.
It is also important, however, to just do what feels right and not be afraid to jump right into something with your whole self. Thats how we keep inspired surely? Maybe if I stop thinking about projects I'm given as a constant evaluation of myself and instead think of them as a way to improve, I'll be a hell of a lot more focussed and happy with my work.
This photo makes me feel happy... just 'cos.
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